18 Mar 2026
EC presents proposal for EU Inc. as starting point for 28th Regime
On 18 March 2026, the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc., a new single set of corporate rules, building the cornerstone and starting point for the EU's 28th regime. EU Inc. is an optional, digital-by-default European corporate framework. It is intended to make it easier for businesses to start, operate and grow across the EU – incentivising them to stay in Europe, and encourage those who once looked elsewhere to return.
Today, in a fragmented corporate legal landscape, European innovative companies are faced with 27 national legal systems and more than 60 company legal forms. This complexity can delay the setting-up of a company for weeks or even months, slowing growth, raising costs and discouraging scale. EU Inc. is at the heart of the Commission's response to these challenges: coming in the form of a regulation, it will provide a single harmonised set of corporate rules that companies can choose. The Draghi Report highlighted the urgent need to focus on improving the EU's competitiveness, including by making it easier for innovative companies to scale up in Europe. Announced in the Commission's political guidelines for 2024 – 2029 and President von der Leyen's SOTEU speech, the EU Inc. proposal aims to reduce fragmentation, boost EU competitiveness, and respond to the needs of innovative companies.
In addition, the Commission adopted a Communication on 18 March 2026, outlining the ongoing and future initiatives to complete the 28th Regime in other policy areas. The Communication proposes maximum digitalisation of interactions between companies and public authorities, for example with the European Business Wallet, amongst other issues. The Communication also announces measures for access to capital for startups and scaleups, building on the measures of the Savings and Investment Union, a potential revision of investment rules of pension fund, and the upcoming review of the European Venture Capital Funds.
Finally, the Commission also adopted a Recommendation on definitions of innovative enterprises, innovative startups and innovative scaleups. The Recommendation is intended to ensure a coherent approach across the EU to ensure better monitoring of EU policies on businesses, providing certainty for companies, investors and decision-makers in the process.
The EU Inc. proposal will now be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission has the clear objective to reach an agreement by end of 2026.
For more information:
Factsheet: Proposal for an EU Inc. corporate legal framework
EU Inc.: A new harmonised corporate legal regime